Greetings, Gustomers -- With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season getting underway, we wanted to catch you up on all the AWESOME things we’re doing at Gusto Pizza Co. and Juniper Moon.

Thanksgiving Hours + Specials

Gusto Pizza Co. and Juniper Moon will be closed on Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 24th so our staff can celebrate the holiday with their families. We will resume business hours at 4:00pm on Black Friday.

In the meantime, be sure to gobble up one of our favorite pizza features: The Thanksgiving Feast – sweet potato puree, roasted turkey breast, mozzarella, fresh sage stuffing, onion, celery and finished with jalapeno-cranberry sauce. You don’t want to miss this one!

12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness

‘Tis the season for giving, so we’re gearing up for the 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness! It pays to GET SOME! Stop in to any Gusto Pizza Co. storefront and get some to be entered into our 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness contest. Everyone who eats enters, and we will award 12 AWESOME prize packages to the winners on December 24th. The awesomeness begins Monday, December 12th and ends on Friday, December 23rd.

Please note that Gusto Pizza Co. will close at 2:00pm on Christmas Eve and reopen Monday, December 26th for business as usual. Juniper Moon will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Holiday Parties + Catering | Gusto + Juniper Moon

Remember that Gusto Pizza Co. will cater your party at the office or at home. In addition to our pizzas, we offer these items designed with larger parties or office deliveries in mind.Contact the nearest location to inquire about placing an order. (Minimum $100 | please provide ample notice | catering orders taken on a case-by-case basis.)

Also inquire about reserving Juniper Moon for your private holiday event, which can host up to 80 guests. Contact Jason@junipermoondm.com for more information.

The Gustomobile is hitting the open road again this summer, and we'll be burnin' rubber and slingin' slices of Divine Pie througout Des Moines this summer.

We'll be making several appearances at one of our favorite local events: the Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series! Featuring delectible local wine, Madhouse Brewing Co. beer, live music and Divine Pie from Gusto Pizza Co. Shows will go on rain or shine and kids are always welcome. Held each Thursday this summer, this is the only way to kick off your weekend.

Come GET SOME!

You can catch us at the Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series at the dates below:

As a part of our broader Take a Slice Out of Hunger campaign – an initiative dedicated to helping local hunger organizations alleviate hunger issues throughout Central Iowa - the Charity Golf Classic is our flagship annual event benefiting the Food Bank of Iowa and JOPPA Outreach. With your help, we can create an even greater impact this year and reach our goal of $25,000!

Click here to register as an individual or foursome. For Early Bird pricing, please submit your registration form by Saturday, April 30th.

The sixth annual Road to the Best Gusto tournament is upon us. That means it’s YOUR time to create a wickedly awesome concept for a Divine Pie (and a rockin' name) to see if it can March to the Menu! You can win awesome prizes (like a pizza party for 20), land a coveted roster spot on our menu and get free high-fives for life. The stakes are high, the competition is fiercely delicious and there can only be ONE winner.

Here’s how it works:

To submit your Divine Pie creation, visit our website and provide contact info, the name of the pie, and a detailed description of its toppings, starting with Gusto crust – the rest is up to you. This year, you’ll compete in a regional style bracket tournament, against other Gustomers from your local storefront, whether it’s downtown, West Des Moines or Johnston. In addition to battling against other submissions from your respective location, we will also feature a local celebrity bracket. Once each finalist has been chosen from each storefront (DSM, WDM, Johnston) and the celebrity bracket, the final four will duke it out to see who makes it to the championship.

Entries will be due by March 4th at 10:00 pm and we will crown a champion on March 31st. Submissions will be accepted via our website. Keep your eyes peeled for details and a sharing contest (#RTBG) on Facebook and Twitter. So tell your friends, family and foes to c’mon down to Gusto Pizza Co. and Get Some! ‘Cause it’s ON!

We hope that your holiday season is off to a cheerful start! With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season officially underway, we wanted to get you caught up on all of the fun things we're doing this holiday season.

It pays to GET SOME! Stop in to either Gusto Pizza Co. location and get some to be entered into our 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness contest. Everyone who eats enters, and each day winners will be drawn from each location. The awesomeness begins Dec. 12th and ends on Dec. 23rd. Keep up with all the fun on Facebook and Twitter.

Day 1: Twelve "Limited Edition" American Apparel Gusto Pizza Co. T-shirts Day 2: Eleven bottles of wine Day 3: Ten gift certificates for one large Signature Pizza from Gusto Pizza Co. Day 4: Nine six-packs of local Iowa craft brew (12 oz.) Day 5: Eight $25 Gusto Pizza Co. gift cards Day 6: Seven $50 gift cards to one of our favorite locally owned businesses Day 7: Six premium chocolate assortments from Chocolaterie Stam Day 8: Five premium spiral-cut smoked hams each with a six-pack of Hamm's Premium Lager Day 9: Four gift certificate packages for one large Signature Pizza per month for 2016Day 10: Three pizza parties at Gusto Pizza Co. for up to 20 guests (7 large pizzas, house salad and n/a beverages)Day 11: Two pairs of tickets to Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival 2016 (includes Bacon Fest hats and Koozies)Day 12: One night on the town: includes tickets to a Civic Center show, dinner for two and a one night stay at the Savory Hotel

At Gusto Pizza Co., we've made it our company mission to Take a Slice Out of Hunger. We've even built an entire charity campaign emblazoned with the TASOOH namesake that aims to help local organizations alleviate hunger issues throughout Central Iowa.

Our flagship annual event, the Take a Slice Out of Hunger Charity Golf Classic, raised over $14,000; $2,500 of which we donated to JOPPA Outreach and the remainder directly benefitted Food Bank of Iowa.

The Food Bank of Iowa is a private, charitable, not-for-profit organization committed to alleviating hunger through food distribution, partnership and education, according to their website. Their ultimate vision is a hunger-free Iowa. Together, we will work to make a hunger-free Iowa, one slice at a time.

The 2015 Take a Slice out of Hunger Charity Golf Classic presented by Gusto Pizza Co. was a gleaming success. As a part of our broader Take a Slice Out of Hungercampaign – dedicated to helping local organizations alleviate hunger issues throughout Central Iowa – the Charity Golf Classic is our flagship annual event benefiting the Food Bank of Iowa and JOPPA Outreach.

Together, we raised over $14,000 that will directly benefit the two local organizations. $2,500 will go to JOPPA Outreach, and the remainder will benefit the Food Bank of Iowa. A sincere thank you goes out to our sponsors, players, staff and host of the event.

We’re already gearing up for next year! Hope to see you on the greens in 2016!

It pays to Get Some! Stop in to either Gusto Pizza Co. location and Get Some to be entered into our 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness contest. Everyone who eats enters, and each day winners will be drawn from each location. The awesomeness begins Dec. 12th and ends on Dec. 23rd.

Surprise your friends and family with the ultimate stocking stuffer. Stop in to either Gusto Pizza Co. location and pick up our reloadable gift cards for all your loved ones.

As part of the 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness, you can earn bonus gift cards: buy $30, get $5; buy $50, get $10; buy $100, get a roll of the "Dice of Awesomeness" with a chance to win upto $60 free. BOOM!

We also have T-shirts, hats, a house-made Gusto Pizza Co. spice blend, plus house-made dressings for sale this holiday season. Even Santa can't top that!

It’s harvest season, which means all those beautiful fall flavors are in abundance and right at your fingertips. Take advantage of those seasonal offerings by whipping up this delicious dish for your friends and family. Trust us, serve this bountiful autumn dish at your next dinner party and you’ll look like a rock star chef.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast until fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool.

In a large bowl, toss the carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, squash and Brussels sprouts with the olive oil and nutmeg and season generously with salt and pepper. Spread the veggies on 2 large rimmed baking sheets and roast for 30 minutes, until the veggies begin to brown. Add red pepper flakes to maple syrup. Scatter the pecans and ginger over the veggies and drizzle with the maple syrup; toss well. Continue to roast the veggies for another 25 minutes, until they are tender and golden. Scrape the veggies into a serving dish and serve hot or at room temperature.

Voila! Now you have a Gusto Pizza Co. certified Divine Dish at your own table. Don’t be afraid to share the recipe with family and friends, because there’s more where that came from! Look for more upcoming Divine seasonal dishes right here on our Chef’s Blog.

Jennifer is a Front-of-House Manager at 1905 Ingersoll Ave., our flagship location, and has been a #GTeam staple since Day One. You can usually find her chatting it up with regulars, suggesting perfect Divine Pies based on their preferences and serving up her famous homemade Scotcharoos. Oh, the Scotcharoos! Let’s talk more about these delightful treats.

Jen comes in at the crack of dawn several mornings a week, hits the kitchen lights, and that’s when the magic happens. Her recipe is Top Secret, of course, but I have the clearance to tell you it’s a mixture of sweet butterscotch chips, creamy peanut butter, Rice Crispies and topped off with sweetened milk chocolate icing. They truly are divine.

Stop in to either location to get your hands on these tasty treats today! It’s guaranteed to become your new guilty pleasure.

It’s almost here: After upwards of 100 entries, four rounds of voting and a whopping 3,152 votes — we will crown a Road to the Best Gusto champion following the ultimate showdown this weekend. The two powerhouse pizzas have climbed through the bracket to take home the sauce, and it’s YOUR chance to help crown the victor.

So who will take the title and earn a spot on our menu including a pizza party for 20? Here’s how it works: Tip off is at 5 pm Thursday, and each pizza will be featured at both of our locations through Sunday. The two pizzas will be pitted against each other, facing off for points. Each large pie sold will rack up two points, each small pizza one point. So rally your troops, wear your colors and come out and show your support.

We will reveal the champion Monday, April 15th, so keep your eyes peeled on Facebook and Twitter.

We don’t want any upsets, so make sure to make every point count! It’s ON!

It’s a competitive time of year; with the Super Bowl in our rearview, the Olympics in full swing, and March Madness right around the corner. “Yeah, yeah. What’s that got to do with Divine Pie?” you say. We’re happy you ask.

The fourth annual Road to the Best Gusto will give our lovely Gustomers the opportunity to enter their most creative pizza ideas (and names—we thought “Gustomer” was pretty rad) for a chance to win awesome prizes, a spot on our menu and free high-fives for life.

Here’s how it works:

Entries will be due by March 14th. Our selection committee will then narrow all of the entries down to 32 competitors. The 32 competitors will then face off in a bracket-style tournament challenge. Here’s the schedule:

-Round of 32: March 17th—20th-Sweet 16: March 21st—26th-Elite 8: March 27th—31st-Final 4: April 1st—7th-Announce championship: April 8th-Two finalists will both run as features at both locations April 9th—13th-Winner will be announced April 14th

So tell your friends, family and foes to c’mon down to Gusto Pizza Co. and Get Some! ‘Cause it’s ON!

It's Gustomobile Season

This warm weather has us thinking ‘adventure.’ And where there’s ‘adventure’ there’s Divine Pie. We’re ready to turn the volume up, roll the windows down and hit the open road with the Gustomobile concessions trailer!

It’s still a bit too chilly for a proper, pizza-slinging road trip. But that hasn’t stopped us from booking events for summer 2014. You can catch us at our old haunts, like 80/35 Music Festival, the Des Moines Arts Festival, etc. But did you know you could book the Gustomobile for your very own private party? Well, now you do. So check out our catering menu and email events@gustopizzaco.com to reserve the Gustomobile for a party of 20—200.

A Look Back: 2014 Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival

It wasn’t too chilly for bacon, though. At a balmy 20 degrees Fahrenheit, we slung award-winning, bacon-laden Divine Pie to the 13,000 folks in attendance. We’re proud to announce that Gusto Pizza Co. took home the second and third place trophies at Bacon Fest, out of 80-plus entries from some 30 vendors. Between the bacon, booze and blustery weather, everyone had a phenomenal time at Bacon Fest. All we can say is OHHHHH, BACON!

We Want You!

If you’re looking to work in a fun, friendly, energetic environment with good people and great food, Gusto Pizza Co. is the place for you! We will be hiring front- and back-of-house positions at each location this spring and summer. Stop in to either location for an application, or just download it.

We hope you folks are having a sweet new year so far! We sure are. In fact, we made a personal New Year's resolution to be MORE AWESOME in 2014. We know what you're thinking: "How can Gusto be more awesome?" Well, we're happy you ask. It's an exciting time here at Gusto Pizza Co. Check out how we're ringing in the new year.

Divine Lunch Special

At Gusto Pizza Co., we like to think we're always improving. Whether we're cramming more high-fives into our day or bringing you innovative foodstuffs in pizza form, we want to be better. Better for you, better for us, better for the sake of Divine Pie. Thus, we bring you the Divine 7: a 7" personal signature pie with your choice of side and drink for only $8 (lunch only, Monday-Friday, 11AM-1:30PM). We think you should come try it. It's hot and fast, because we know that's how you like it.

Work with Gusto

Ditch the brown bag for some truly Divine Pie. Whether you’re planning an office party or a corporate lunch—Gusto Pizza Co. has you covered. We offer pizza, salads, lasagna and more. Minimum orders and distance varies, so contact our nearest location for details.

Bring Gusto to Gameday

Forget chips and dip. Hot wings are out too. Take-and-bake Divine Pie is the new Gameday staple. Super Bowl Sunday is a special day, so we thought we'd offer you a special, one-day-only deal. Stop in before 4PM Sunday, Feb. 2nd for buy one, get one half off take-and-bake pies for the Big Game (valid on all pizzas). Your friends and family will cheer for you!

Road to the Best Gusto

Speaking of sports and snacks, the annual 2014 Road to the Best Gusto is right around the corner. We want your most creative pizza ideas (and names) for a chance to win great prizes, a spot on our menu and free high-fives for life. The fun starts in February, so keep your eyes open on Facebook and Twitter for details. Until then, come Get Some!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season officially underway, we wanted to get you caught up on all the fun things we're doing this holiday season.

12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness

It pays to Get Some! Stop in to either Gusto Pizza Co. location and Get Some to be entered into our 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness contest. Everyone who eats enters, and each day winners will be drawn from each location. The awesomeness begins Dec. 12th and ends on Dec. 23rd.

Holiday Hours

Both Gusto Pizza Co. locations will close at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24th, and remain closed for Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, to spend the holiday with family and friends. We will resume regular hours for the remainder of the year. We will be closed on New Years Day, Jan. 1st. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Give the Gift of Gusto

Surprise your friends and family with the ultimate stocking stuffer. Stop in to either Gusto Pizza Co. location and pick up our reloadable gift cards for all your loved ones. As part of the 12 Days of Christmas Awesomeness, you can earn bonus gift cards: buy $30, get $5; buy $50, get $10; buy $100, get a roll of the "Dice of Awesomeness" with a chance to win up to $60 free. BOOM!

We also have T-shirts, hats, a house-made Gusto Pizza Co. spice blend, plus Balsamic-Romano and Garlic-Fennel vinaigrette dressings for sale this holiday season. Even Santa can't top that!

'Tis the season for giving, so don't forget to drop off a new, unopened toy in the Toys for Tots drop-off box at either Gusto Pizza Co. location. Donations will be collected around Dec. 18th. We appreciate any donations!

Vote for Gusto Pizza Co.!

Cityview's annual "Best of Des Moines" survey is back, and that means it's high time for Gusto Pizza Co. to reclaim the "Best Pizza" award. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C8XWD7D to cast your vote. We appreciate your support!

Just a friendly reminder that you can get your fix of Divine Pie at our new location at 8950 University Ave. in West Des Moines, IA (just west of Des Moines Golf and Country Club). Be sure to stop in and check out the new digs. Dine in or carry out; just make sure you come and Get Some!

Work with Gusto

Ditch the brown bags for some truly Divine Pie. Whether you’re planning an office party or a corporate lunch—Gusto Pizza Co. has you covered. Minimum orders and distance varies, so contact our nearest location for details.

Give the Gift of Gusto

Surprise your friends and family with the ultimate stocking stuffer. Stop in to either Gusto Pizza Co. location and pick up our reloadable gift cards for all your loved ones. We also have T-shirts, baseball caps, a house-made Gusto Pizza Co. spice blend, plus Balsamic-Romano and Garlic-Fennel vinaigrette dressings for sale this holiday season. Even Santa can’t top that!

Happy Thanksgiving

Both Gusto Pizza Co. locations will be closed on Thanksgiving, this Thursday, Nov. 28th to spend the holiday with family and friends. We will reopen at 4 P.M. on Black Friday, Nov. 29th. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Toys for Tots

Tis the season for giving, so don’t forget to drop off a new, unopened toy in the Toys for Tots drop-off box at either Gusto Pizza Co. location. Donations will be collected around Dec. 18th. We appreciate your support!

New LocationWe are thrilled to formally announce the grand opening of our second restaurant! Located at 8950 University Ave. in West Des Moines, IA (just west of Des Moines Golf and Country Club), our new location will open its doors Tuesday, September 3rd. Come help us celebrate, and high-fives will be on the house, per usual. So come out and Get Some!

Hiring FairIn light of the opening of our second location, on Saturday, August 17th Gusto Pizza Co. will host a hiring fair at the new restaurant located at 8950 University Ave. in West Des Moines. If you’re looking to work in a fun, friendly, energetic environment with good people and great food, Gusto Pizza Co. is the place for you! We will be hiring all positions, front- and back-of-house. There will be two interview sessions: 10:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. We hope to see you there!

Fall Menu ChangesAt Gusto Pizza Co., we like to keep the menu fresh and seasonal. So on September 3rd, we will be adding some truly exciting, unique and delicious menu items, as well as welcoming back some old friends. From appetizers and salads to pizzas, beer and wine. Trust us, you’re going to love it.

Of course this means we had to make room for the new menu items, so some of your favorite Signature Pizzas may be riding the bench this season. But don’t fret just yet, at Gusto we never say “Goodbye,” just “See you later.”

Sweet PartnershipsWe’re pleased to announce our sweet new partnership with local bakeries Sweet Binney’s and Sweet Rewards Gluten Free Bakery. We’ve teamed up with each bakery to bring you the best desserts available in the city. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, be sure to stop by the dessert case on your way out (or on your way in—they’re that good!)

Come on out to Des Moines Golf and Country Club Friday, January 25th between 5-9 for the third annual Roasting Cancer chili cook off. We will be there competing with some of the area's best in the professioanl category and we need all the help we can get. All proceeds go to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so make sure you bring some friends and make sure they vote for Gusto Pizza Co. Chili + Cornbread + Beer + Ice Cream + Silent Auction= Total Awesomeness. So get out and get some for a good cause and together we can Roast Cancer.